John j



(NO Model.)

J. J. (JRIBBS.v

V HoRsE- HAY YORK.

No. 266,271. Ptented Oct. 24, 1882.

J e T Aes': Ira/01916014:

Uwrrao States Parma* Price..

JOHN J. GRIBBS, OF S'I'LOUIS, MISSOURI.

HORSE HAY-FORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 266,271, dated October 24, 1882.

Application filed August 26, 1882.

To all tchem it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN J. (JRIBBs, of St. Louis, in the county of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hay-Forks; and I do hereby declare that the following,` is a full,

clear, ang-l exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying' drawin gs, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure l represents a side view of the t'ork with the operative devices np, a portion of the sheath being,` broken away. Fig. 2 represents a similar view with the devices down. Fig. 3 is a top view, showing the position of the securing-prong's. Fig'. 4 is a sectional detail.

This invention relates to improvements in hay-forks, more especially to that kind designated as harpoon hay-forks The object of the invention is to furnish a fork certain in its service, and one in which hay, particularly short hay, will be held without danger ot' slipping' off.

The invention consists in a fork having the pecu'liarities of construction hereinafter set forth.

In the annexed drawing's, the letter A denates the fork, from the handle of which extends the pointed sheath B, consisting of the two side piecesor cheeks connected at the ends, as shown. Near the bottom of the slot thus formed two prongs, G G, are pivoted upon a` pin, g. These prongs are curved,forming` an angle, g', at which points7 by means of pins f, they are connected to links F F, the upper ends of which are pivoted to a slide, E. This slide E has a slot, e, through which pass guidepins e', secured in the sheath across its slot. At the upper end this slide E is hinged to an arm, D, at its lower end d. This arm Dhas a curve, d', which is such that the end c' of said arm is'on the same' straight line with its other end, ti. To a pin, c, is hinged a lever, O, extending out of the sheath-slot and up by the handle of the fork. This lever O is right angled, and at its angle 02 itispivoted to the end c' of the arm D. Within a slot, h, of the handle is pivoted a tripper, H, the curved end h' of which is adapted to en'gage a curved por- (No modeLl tion of the lever (J. This tripper is'operated by a eord, l, which passes through a hole, a, in the handl'e, and by which the tripper IL is moved to positively throw the lever O out of lock and allow the prong's G G to drop. From this description and an inspection of the drawings it will be seen that the prongs G G and links F F form a toggle, and whether they be up or down their position securely shields them from accidental displacement, and a positive movement of the lever G is necessary to change them. The slide E, movingin a right line, prevents any side strain upon the prongs and their links, and' hence they simply turn on their pivots. p The construction given to arm D and lever O where they are joined forms a lock at the upper part of the fork, as shown in Fig. 1, so that when the prongs G G are up to hold the hay there is a lock of the parts,`and dropping is therefore prevented. To the opposite t'aces of the sheath B are secured plates L, from which project in pairs the securing prongs J J and K K, the sheath B being of such width that these prongs are arranged all four equidistantly apart, as shown in Fig. 3. These prongs extend way down the fork, so that when the prong's G G are raised there is Very little space between them. These four prongs J and K, and the operating-prongs G G, form a cage, as it were, in which the hay is caught and held, and from which it cannot escape until the lever (l is moved and the prong's G G lowered. The plates L L are secured to the sheath B by screws or bolts j, or other analogous means, and can therefore be readily removed, if desirable. Each plate L has two prongs, as already stated, and by the shape given such prong's when the plates are in place the said prongs are arranged equidistantly, as before set forth.

In operation the tripper H is moved, which throws the lever (J from its lock and down, so that the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 2, the prongs G G coming,` wholly within the sheath. The fork is then shoved into the hay, the latter sliding up along under the securing-prongs J and K. The lever O is then pulled up untilit becomes locked, as before described, when the prongs G G will assume the position shown in Fig. 1, and the. locked lever above and the toggle below will hold them as IOO long' a's required. In this position the hay, especially short hay sneh as prarie grass is secnrely held ainidst the several prong's, and the fork ean he reinoved to any desired place without the hay dropping'.

In using this device With long' hay the seenring-prongs J J and K K can be reinoved from the fork, as they will not be needed.

Ilavingdeseribed myinvention,whatIelaim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The sheath B, provided with plates L L, seenred to the opposite sides thereof, and havingeaeh a pair of downwardly-projeeting tines, J J K K, the said sheath being of sneh width that the four tines are eqnidistantly spaeed 15 with reference to each Other, in combination with the lifting-prongs G G, expanding and eontraeting within the1oWerendof the sheath and snbstantially opposite the lower ends of the tines, as set forth.

In testimony that I clain] the foregoing as my own I aflx my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN J. ORIBBS.

Witnesses:

GEO. SeHLEUsEN, AUGUsT TETZLAFF.. 

